# iPastels vs Makeup Studio

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iPastels at 82% against Makeup Studio's 38%. iPastels also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Makeup Studio's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iPastels sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Makeup Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iPastels holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.1K and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of iPastels's written reviews are positive against 38% of Makeup Studio's.

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, Makeup Studio fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPastels | Makeup Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558/reviews)** | [4.4 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makeup-studio-pro-sketchbook/id6471482261/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.7% of reviews** | 38.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 345 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Norbyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/331310753) | [Happsify, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805106950) |

## What reviewers say

### iPastels

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipastels/id489302558)

This app offers a realistic digital painting experience with lifelike pastel simulation and interactive textures. It allows for precise color blending and adjustable stroke sizes, catering to both beginners and experienced artists. Explore your creativity without the cost of traditional art supplies.

**Highlights:** Lifelike pastel simulation, Realistic paper/canvas textures, Precise color blending, Fingertip stroke size adjustment, Left-handed toolbar option, Live parameter changes, Multiple layers

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Jar: Smallest Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Small Tip | $2.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Medium Tip | $5.00 | one-time |
| Pro Upgrade | $7.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Big Tip | $10.00 | one-time |
| Tip Jar: Biggest Tip | $25.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Realistic pastel simulation
- 💡 Useful for beginners and professionals
- 🌈 Wide range of colors and shades
- 🔍 Good blending and smudging tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for more
- 🔍 Lack of zoom or detailed control
- 🎨 Difficulty finding/reusing specific colors
- 🔀 Confusing layer management

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when importing images
- Layers sometimes disappear or get lost
- Undo button deletes entire drawing sections

**Requested features**

- Add color picker tool
- Improve layer management and visibility
- Implement pressure-sensitive brush support
- Provide more paper/canvas texture options
- Allow saving and recalling custom palettes


### Makeup Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/makeup-studio-pro-sketchbook/id6471482261)

This app allows users to practice and visualize makeup looks on diverse digital face charts. Explore a vast collection of colors and textures to create natural or glamorous styles, and even pick outfits to complete the look. Perfect for aspiring and professional makeup artists, or anyone wanting to experiment with virtual beauty.

**Highlights:** Diverse face chart templates, Extensive makeup color palettes, Variety of makeup textures, Mirror tool for precise application, Outfit selection feature, Virtual makeup visualization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month  Subscription Trial | $19.99 | per month |
| 2 Month Subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Enjoyable experience
- 🎨 Creative freedom
- 🙌 No ads
- 💕 Loved by users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for key features
- 🔧 Lack of blending tools
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Limited options

**Reported bugs**

- Scrolling issues
- Makeup application problems
- Glitches when using certain features

**Requested features**

- Add blending tool
- Improve hair coloring options
- Provide more free content
- Add tutorial/guidance for beginners


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPastels free?

iPastels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Makeup Studio free?

Makeup Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iPastels or Makeup Studio?

iPastels is rated higher. iPastels averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Makeup Studio averages 4.4 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do iPastels or Makeup Studio have ads?

Makeup Studio shows ads; iPastels does not.

### Which is updated more often, iPastels or Makeup Studio?

iPastels ships an update every 6 weeks, and Makeup Studio fortnightly. Most recently, iPastels was updated on September 25, 2026 and Makeup Studio on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*